#chronic unemployment

[autumn-storms-and-coffee-rings]

an overview of the difficulties in finding common decency, basic communication, and kindness during a job search:

of the 201 positions i've applied to this year, i have completed:

- 4 writing samples/questionnaires/assessments (i was not compensated for my time or work, but they did at least let me know i would not be moving forward).

- 4 online face-to-face interviews (i have been ghosted by 2 of these).

- i've received communication about rejection or postponement/cancellation of the position from only 74 of 201.

(p.s. i recognize people are overworked. trust me, i've been there. but email scripts exist for a reason.

(p.p.s. yes, i send a thank you email after every direct interaction.)

(p.p.p.s. i recently hired a resume writer to help me get through the ATS b*llsh*t, so fingers crossed that progress will be made soon.)

[fipindustries]

if i can be candid, is hard for me to be moved by the idea of artists losing their job to automations. and frankly this indifference towards economic concerns of other artists stem a lot from sour grapes that i was never able to live of my art, and frankly i dont think i ever will.

i see it more as a privilege than a right to be able to live off your art. for sure you are entitled to set up shop, but are you entitled to getting costumers? if you cant get any, is this an injustice that has been ennacted on you? i dont know, i would feel pretty stupid if i were to claim that a harm has been done to me simply because i could never get enough people interested in buying my stuff such that i could live off it, and wether this is because the alternatives they prefer are other human artists or robots it makes no difference to me, at the end of the day i never got clients one way or the other. and so its easy for me to get a bit alienated from those worries.

[watermelinoe]

can you imagine feeling good abt any of your accomplishments for more than ten seconds

[extinct-muppet]

The other day my mom yelled at me for standing up for myself. She told me I'll never be able to have a job, she said it like it was the worst outcome in life.

It sucks bc I don't know if I will be able to physically have a job. I know I will try but being on my feet hurts and there aren't many opportunities for people who don't stand (also the fog makes it difficult)

[loth-creatures]

The four horsemen are actually chronic pain, chronic fatigue, executive dysfunction, and social anxiety.

[hearteyespierce]

god the hits really don’t stop fucking coming do they.

[the5n00k]

Getting increasingly harder to get my body what it needs while doing what's expected of me <3

I tried sleeping in to combat my later free time schedule and to see if I would stop being tired

[juniperandjustice]

Telling someone who has suffered horrible abuse and been through many kinds of hell that you can hardly even imagine much less understand or relate to, that “self-love is important” and to call a suicide hotline when they express their struggles and talk about their reality is dismissive, invalidating, silencing, and hurtful.  It doesn't help anything.

So is telling them that *you* would never say “FML”, when you haven't had the hardships and traumas they have, when you aren't stuck in an abusive relationship and financially controlled, kept from getting medical care.  Showing off your abled-ness. The opportunities and support you have access to. Lucky you, look at your privilege.  You've been sheltered and secure your whole life.  Other people haven't been so lucky.

[mushroomwillow]

I guess if people see this and they have thoughts, lmk. I can’t guarantee that itd work in my situation, but I’d be willing to hear people out.

Ok I quit. Boss msgs me, asking if I’d be willing to do a leave of absence. I said I’d be ok with talking to her over a call.

However, I already went to her and explained I need time off. I can’t do the job due to mental and physical health. And a billion other reasons.

So please tell me, even tho you’ve been an incredible boss, how you’re going to convince me that causing trauma to a child is going to be worked around. How you’re going to magically have a solution to me being over worked.

I’m genuinely curious in the most bitter way.

I’ve figured out with my fiance that in order to pay my bills, I need at least $750 a month. Of course I also need groceries.

On his income alone, we could apply for food stamps. It won’t cover a ton, but it’ll cover a bit.

And as far as me making the $750, food delivery, donating plasma (which has other benefits of actually helping people) and babysitting. Hell there’s the little girl across from us I could talk to her mom about it. I could also walk dogs, they also have dogs, not saying they’ll be all for it, but it’s worth a shot. Who knows. There’s apps for it too.

And all of this I could do while still having my daughter when she comes back from her dad’s, and focus on school. It’s going to be hell. But maybe less of a hell than being forced to cause trauma, when I am literally getting my degree to help people with trauma.

I’m angry, I’m depressed. I’m impossibly anxious. Idk what to do with no education, physical and mental illness, and needing to provide for myself, my daughter, and helping my fiance.

I’ve googled and searched YouTube and Pinterest. Everything seems so redundant. Start a blog, do surveys, idk how that’d give me $750 a month. Hell idk if I can afford the gas to do food delivery considering gas is $4 a gallon.

[plotvichka]

Bipolar disorder is a chronic illness that demands special therapy. People with bipolar are also people with special needs that should be met by employers, family, friends, and partners. We need medication, psychotherapy, but most importantly support.

Employers should consider giving people who are officially diagnosed with bipolar disorder small breaks even after a month of work or so because some of us can't keep working for months before they can take a break. I myself quit a good job because my depression came back (my meds were changed) and I couldn't have a paid leave to get used to my new meds. I got better later, but I already had no job.

People who are close to bipolar patients should support them no matter what and don't judge them. We always need your understanding and sometimes we need your advice. I always need support, so I can see myself in perspective and make a weighted decision especially when it's a serious one. It's also helpful to have people on your side when you're learning to live with your illness. And financial support is also needed most of the time because therapy shouldn't be avoided, but it is very expensive.

If you want to read my journey through unemployment and job search you can read the post below.

[autumn-storms-and-coffee-rings]

it’s only a p/t job, but my brain is drowning in information.

[leechloach]

My sleep schedule is like an animals. it's like The Big Nap followed by 1-3 little naps throughout the day

[novelconcepts]

My feelings are much too Big and I am much too smol.

[bluemoonrabbit]

My first two weeks at the new job have been eventful. My first week was busy but normal. Then pro-Palestinian protesters took over the campus library this weekend, and we've been working remote since monday.

It's a strange feeling because personally and emotionally I am on the protesters side and am horrified that police were called in to remove them today. But I don't think I can openly say that to any of my colleagues.

[qomrades]

weve discovered the reason behind my fluctuating state of depression!! it's that my heart is too big and beautiful.

[cyanomys]

Fuck Capitalism, Don’t Work

If you are fortunate enough that you don’t need to work for your family to be okay, or if you can’t work without worsening your health conditions, YOU ARE NOT BEING LAZY.

Unemployment under capitalism is a feature, not a bug. The threat of unemployment is used to scare people into accepting subpar working conditions and pay.

When people who don’t have to work don’t work, they are leaving jobs for people who need them. You are reducing non-voluntary unemployment and reducing the chokehold capitalism has on society.

And that’s not even taking into account that capitalism relies on people being sick, unhappy, and overworked to sell them cheap thrills and convenience goods and services. Contributing to your family by doing household work or even just keeping yourself happier and healthier is an act of rebellion.

You do not need to make money to contribute to society. In fact, some people contribute more to society by being grateful for what they have and not working.